Story for MAP

Sunday last I traveled to Eugene for a three day meeting. While checking in I noticed a trio having a discussion in Russian; one of the trio was a very attractive young woman.

Tuesday evening I was in the Hotel lounge with friends and noticed the Russian woman setting alone - I decide to be friendly and walked to her table and asked "How do you say hello in Russian?". She responded "Dosvedanya!" I asked "Doesn't this mean goodbye?" She followed sharply, "Exactly!" :roll:

"How do you say vodka in Russian?" for next time. 'Privet' is hello but don't take my word for it. That would pretty much cover most peoples needs for Russian words. [ October 03, 2004: Message edited by: Helen Thomas ]

I can't think about anybody I know who would be so mean. Most likely, she isn't living in the US, and didn't have time to figure local customs. In Russia a girl can answer like this if she suspects you in bad intentions but then, it happens between young people mostly.

Helen: "How do you say vodka in Russian?" for next time.

It's like to ask "How do you say "Coca-Cola" in English?"

Reminds me... I once passed a guy who was sitting between University of Oregon and the University book store. It was a hot day, but he was in a warm jacket. I guess, this jacket was actually his home, so it's Ok... I forgot why we started to talk (it wasn't my idea, this I can tell for sure), but he finally asked me where I am from. I said "Russia". His face brightened, he exclaimed "Russia!" and shown me the word "Vodka" on his jacket. I went home smiling and thinking how cool it is that there are people in the US for whom "Russia" means something good, rather than Marxism, communism, totalitarianism, despotism, perestroika, mafia, mafia, mafia... [ October 04, 2004: Message edited by: Mapraputa Is ]

Reminds me a bit on when lately I was in office with 3 of my russian co-workers. Suddenly all 3 around a window discussing in russian. Then they rushed down the stairs and me stumbling after them, asking kind of a what-are-you-doing question. They shouted "russian girl, russian girl". Igor run very fast accross the street. We were waiting near the door of the offices house. Igor came back exhausted and disappointed, saying that she was from Poland, which appeared to be synonym for "waste of time". At least my co-workers have a clear concept about what they want. [ October 05, 2004: Message edited by: Axel Janssen ]

The common thing which I can see now is, in above incidence and the first one,there are awlays three Russians are involved.

MH

Sania Marsh
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posted Oct 05, 2004 07:57:00

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Originally posted by Mapraputa Is: Hey, it wasn't me!

In Russia a girl can answer like this if she suspects you in bad intentions [ October 04, 2004: Message edited by: Mapraputa Is ]

In fact, back home in Russia almost every day someone would come up to me on the street, bus or subway, and unless they are very creative they would get very mean reply. It is common back home to meet girls that way, and I won't believe even 5% of all those guys had good intentions. I tought it is different in US, while I was in CT almost no stranger ever tried to talk to me, unless they were some sales people or model recruiters, so I used to be very friendly with strangers. In NY it is like back home, on every corner someone can approach you and start talking, well guess what - they do get mean replies, I'm not going to be nice with everyone, on the top of that "How do you say....in ..." is so old and boring. Every person thiks he/she is different, and wouldn't want template ice breakers to be applied to her. It is always better to notice something different about person, like java logo pin she attached to her bag (saw it today in train), and ask her about that - it is definately something she likes, less chances she would give mean reply.

Helen Thomas
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posted Oct 05, 2004 08:24:00

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Or try finding words for which you know there are no Russian equivalents.

mohawk индеец - могавк mohican индеец из племени могикан

Blast! [ October 05, 2004: Message edited by: Helen Thomas ]

Mapraputa Is
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posted Oct 05, 2004 10:07:00

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Helen: People like to tell about their customs. "What is the best vodka in Russia?

One that is in refrigerator.

But generally, I would advise to really really stay away from "vodka" topic talking to a Russian you don't know. It's a spiritual thing for Russians, and it is potentially explosive.

"Actually, I lie, It's a proven fact that Americans invented vodka... Americans?! No really it's true... I read that Americans were the first to actually... But before I can even finish my sentence I am drowned out in an uproar of objections: Americans?! Says Vadim. Vodka?! Adds Boris. They both are looking at me fiercely: Invented?! Vadim says again. Vodka?! Boris adds. Okay, okay, I concede, It was a joke... it was just a joke! Not funny, Vadim says. Yeah, says Boris, There are some things in this world that you just don't joke about! That's right, says Vadim, just think how you'd feel if we told you that Russians invented peanut butter. I see your point."

Originally posted by Mapraputa Is: So Donald, if you will get this kind of reply again, try to continue the conversation like nothing happened and see where it will go...

... but I dont know how to knock on a door of a stranger which was slammed on the face.

AW All the best to Donald. :-)

In fact, I got an impression that some individuals consider "very mean replies" as a part of a courting ritual. Are you talking about Masala B/Tollywood movies ?

"Thanks to Indian media who has over the period of time swiped out intellectual taste from mass Indian population." - Chetan Parekh

Sania Marsh
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posted Oct 05, 2004 10:56:00

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Originally posted by Mapraputa Is: [b] In fact, I got an impression that some individuals consider "very mean replies" as a part of a courting ritual.

True, and people tend to like those who don't give up

Helen Thomas
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posted Oct 05, 2004 11:13:00

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Whoops! Sorry didn't mean to offend anyone.

This might help Donald.

Anton Chekov : "Notice those Germans sitting near the shelter? Whenever Germans or Englishmen get together, they talk about the crops, the price of wool, or their personal affairs. But for some reason or other when we Russians get together we never discuss anything but women and abstract subjects -- but especially women."

Stick to abstract subjects.

Mapraputa Is
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posted Oct 05, 2004 12:07:00

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Rita: True, and people tend to like those who don't give up

I am damn sure you mean "women"!!

Mapraputa Is
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posted Oct 05, 2004 12:20:00

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Rita: True, and people tend to like those who don't give up

Just think about it: we need to make sure by any means our kids are safe. Everything can be sacrifised for this. Everything -- your wit included. Only your persistence counts, because your persistence means you will probably protect our kids. [ October 05, 2004: Message edited by: Mapraputa Is ]

Sania Marsh
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posted Oct 05, 2004 13:07:00

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Originally posted by Mapraputa Is:

Just think about it: we need to make sure by any means our kids are safe. Everything can be sacrifised for this. Everything -- your wit included. Only your persistence counts, because your persistence means you will probably protect our kids.

Yeah, I meant women.. Never thought about it, but seems true. I would never marry my husband if he wasn't persistent, seems I was even testing it by putting him in different situations. I never could explain why I put him in some situations, always thought I was doing it out of my selfishness,.. maybe not huh? Maybe on subconscience level I was ensuring my children's future. I feel like a hero now.

Mapraputa Is
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posted Oct 05, 2004 18:26:00

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Rita: I never could explain why I put him in some situations, always thought I was doing it out of my selfishness,.. maybe not huh? Maybe on subconscience level I was ensuring my children's future. I feel like a hero now.

I don�t know, Rita. There are two levels we think on: one is intellectual, on which no sane woman would ever marry a man

Another is emotional: on this level I am ready to marry a gorilla if this gorilla will fight away anybody who would try to hurt our kids.

Make any sense you want out of this...

Richard Hawkes
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posted Oct 05, 2004 18:41:00

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Originally posted by Rita Moore: I would never marry my husband if he wasn't persistent, seems I was even testing it by putting him in different situations. I never could explain why I put him in some situations, always thought I was doing it out of my selfishness,.. maybe not huh?

So some women DO do it on purpose! I knew it, I bloody knew it! Thanks for this valuable insight into why some women seem like fruitcakes

I need an insight, too: while men evaluate women on the size and the shape of the hips and breasts (as a proof of child bearing and child feeding, respectively), what's up with the length and color of the hair? How is a blond with long hair more likely to be a better wife/concubine/mother than a bold brunette?

Sania Marsh
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posted Oct 05, 2004 19:26:00

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Originally posted by John Smith: I need an insight, too: while men evaluate women on the size and the shape of the hips and breasts (as a proof of child bearing and child feeding, respectively), what's up with the length and color of the hair? How is a blond with long hair more likely to be a better wife/concubine/mother than a bold brunette?

as I know body shape has nothing to do with child bearing (unless it is beyond borderline). Put asian, african, european and latino women next to each other - completely different shapes, but all have healthy children. And why do men tend to like underweight women? - those usually have problems having children.

Originally posted by Rita Moore: as I know body shape has nothing to do with child bearing (unless it is beyond borderline). Put asian, african, european and latino women next to each other - completely different shapes, but all have healthy children. And why do men tend to like underweight women? - those usually have problems having children.

My friend Janine she discovered a rule for couples: "The larger the woman's breasts, the dumber the man."

BTW the psychologist Havelock Ellis wrote an essay called "What makes a Woman Beautiful?" where, if I remember correctly, he argues that what a society considers as a sexually attractive trait depends partly on the prevailing racial types, hence the preference for blondness by Europeans. [ October 06, 2004: Message edited by: Anthony Villanueva ]

Helen Thomas
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posted Oct 06, 2004 02:32:00

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Anton Chekov was right about one thing. Russians do like to discuss women, especially the women. Nothing terribly abstract so far.

Helen Thomas
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posted Oct 06, 2004 02:51:00

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John Smith : what's up with the length and color of the hair? How is a blond with long hair more likely to be a better wife/concubine/mother than a bold brunette?

Blonds probably imply financial success than any particular wifely or motherly attribute. Women do go brunette after marriage though some husbands may prefer them to stay blond.

Donald R. Cossitt
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posted Oct 06, 2004 06:21:00

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So Donald, if you will get this kind of reply again, try to continue the conversation like nothing happened and see where it will go...

I didn't tell as Paul Harvey would say, "the rest of the story."

In fact, I got an impression that some individuals consider "very mean replies" as a part of a courting ritual.

So Donald, if you will get this kind of reply again, try to continue the conversation like nothing happened and see where it will go...

However, if the inference toward intercourse is something beyond social (and it was not) and given the results, maybe I should have asked if she could help me find 'Moose and Squirrel'?

... but I dont know how to knock on a door of a stranger which was slammed on the face.

At any rate I thought it was funny - as did my freinds (and my wife) There goes my image as a "smooth" operator :roll:

At any rate I thought it was funny - as did my freinds (and my wife) There goes my image as a "smooth" operator

Doco, please explain what you mean

Sania Marsh
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posted Oct 06, 2004 13:28:00

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Heh, the post about "Coca-cola" in English, made me remember something, After being in US for 3 years I went to visit back home. In one of the groccery stores I asked the salesperson (in Russian) "Can I have one coke?" ("coke" part sounds the same in russian). The guy didn't move, I asked same again, now he replied that they don't have it (It was standing behind him on shelf), I pointed at it with my finger and he replied : "Ah, Cola!" [ October 06, 2004: Message edited by: Rita Moore ]

Donald R. Cossitt
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posted Oct 06, 2004 14:12:00

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Doco, please explain what you mean

Well, it seemed to me that some thought I may have been making untoward advances on the lady (the word "smooth" having appeared in a reply). I was merely making an attempt at being friendly (we were in a group and she was alone...). Now in full view of my wife and friends this would be rather awkward, even for a country boy AKA 'buckaroo'.

Originally posted by Mapraputa Is:Rita: I never could explain why I put him in some situations, always thought I was doing it out of my selfishness,.. maybe not huh? Maybe on subconscience level I was ensuring my children's future.

I don�t know, Rita. There are two levels we think on: one is intellectual, ... Another is emotional: on this level I am ready to marry a gorilla if this gorilla will fight away anybody who would try to hurt our kids.

It's amazing how little men understand about women. Once I asked my wife what attracted her to me (when so many other women had little interest in a hyper-nerd). She said that one major thing was seeing how excited I get over other people's babies. (We later had five of our own.)

It reminded me of one time when I was 24 at my first job, and the Vice-President brought his small children to the office for the Christmas party. I was having a good time playing with kids, and the older secretary told me that I was getting the younger secretaries excited seeing that. At the time, I had no idea what she was talking about.

So my advice to guys who want to meet women is to take a small niece or nephew for an outing where you're likely run into single women. When they admire your child, say, "Oh, this is just my niece/nephew -- I'm single." It's probably a better ice-breaker than a puppy! (The disadvantage is that this probably won't be as effective if you're looking for a woman interested in a one-night stand.)

Mapraputa Is
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posted Oct 06, 2004 15:42:00

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So my advice to guys who want to meet women

You need to be sincere. You can't pretend and don't even think about it.